Baseball game



K. E. VOGEL BASEBALL GAME Aug. 5, 1941.

Filed Feb. 21, 1940 Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BASEBALL GAME Karl E. Vogel, Ashland, Ky.

Application February 21, 1940, Serial No. 320,216

(01. raw-90 2 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in an amusement device of the gameboard type and more particularly to a miniature or indoor baseball game, having for its object to provide a game which not only develops a high degree of skill in the players, but affords a great deal of amusement to both players and observers in that it parallels as closely as possible the game of baseball as actually played on the outdoor diamonds throughout the country.

I am familiar with Various baseball game boards of the type which are divided into a series of playing zones or areas, some of which include a member or members adapted to be propelled by a contestant toward the various zones on the board. However, in these previously known devices, the arrangement and method of playing have departed from the fundamental principles of the regular game of baseball to such an extent as to detract noticeably from the skill, strategy and competitive thinking required of the players. 7

It is therefore the primary object of my invention to provide a game which requires and develops skill and strategy on the part of both the defensive and the offensive contestants, similar to that in the regular outdoor game.

Another object is to provide a game board having thereon the complete representation of a baseball field divided into predetermined zones and including a series of miniature human figures representing the players of both teams, said figures being so designed as to serve purposes comparable to those of the actual players in the outdoor game.

A further object of my invention is to provide a game board of the type referred to andincluding a disc-like member adapted to be used in place of and for the same purpose as the baseball in the regular outdoor game.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a game which must be played by at least two contestants, one representing the pitcher, and one the batter, both the board and miniature player members being so designed as to permit the respective contestants to follow the skill and strategy which would be required of the comparable players in the regular outdoor game.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel features hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 represents a plan view, partly broken away, of the game board, showing the complete baseball field and illustrating diagrammatically the bases and players.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the disc or ball.

Fig, 3 is a perspective view of an infielder or baseman.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an outfielder.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a base runner, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of player member.

In the drawing, referring to Fig. 1, A represents the game board per se which is preferably about seventeen inches by twenty-six inches in size and forms the entire playing field. This board is marked off to represent the diamond including first, second and third bases, I, 2 and 3, respectively, the pitchers mound 4, and the home plate 5, and the various appointments of a regular baseball field such as the scoreboard 6, bleachers I, and dugouts 8 and 9, most of which are identified by suitable legends as shown on the drawing.

The field is divided into a series of zones based on the comparative size of the game board with respect to the regular outdoor field, which zones have been determined by a careful study of the average result of a hitball falling in the respective areas on :a regular baseball field. Thus, the infield forming zone In and the area immediately adjacent the infield forming zones II, I2, I3 and I4, carry the legend Single which of course indicates that if a hit ball stops within these zones, the batter advances to first base as will later appear.

Immediately adjacent and surrounding the Single zones II, I2, I3 and I4 is a substantially arcuate area forming zones I5, It and Il carrying the legend Double which indicates that a ball landing in these zones advances the batter to second base, or is a two-base hit.

The remaining area lying beyond the Double zones, with the exception of the scoreboard 6 in one corner of the board, and the right field bleachers I in the other corner, extends to the longitudinal extremity of the board and forms a zone IB carrying the legend Triple and indiform right and left field foul lines, respectively, which are so indicated by legends on the board, as will appear from the drawing.

All of the lines including the foul lines and those which determine the various zones heretofore referred to, form an important part of the game as will hereinafter appear in the description of the method of playing the game. Preferably, the lines between first base and second base, and second base and third base are double lines for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

In addition to the lines defining the various zones, I provide an arcuate line l9 intermediate the pitchers mound t and second base, and a transverse line 2%] immediately behind home plate 5, which have an important bearing on the game.

For use in Conjunction with the playing board just described, the game comprises a playing disc 2! (Fig. 2) which represents the baseball, and a series of player members including four infielders 22 (Fig. 3), three outfielders 23 (Fig. i), and three baserunners 24 (Fig. 5).

In the form of player members illustrated in these. figures, each consists of a miniature ball player mounted on a rectangular block whereby the players may be placed in standing position on the game board. These blocks vary in length according to the position the player is intended to occupy on the field. In other words, the base- 1 runners 2d are mounted on relatively small blocks 24', the four infielders or basemen 22 are mounted on longer blocks 22', and the three outfielders 23 are mounted on still longer blocks 23'. The comparative size of the blocks may be seen from Figs. 3, 4. and 5 of the drawing as well as in their respective positions on the playing field in Fig. 1.

The respective lengths of the blocks that support the basemen and fielders 22 and 23 have been determined by the relative area each player is intended to defend on a regular baseball playing field. Thus, as the outfielders cover a wider range than the infielders, their supporting blocks are accordingly longer. As to the baserunners 24, their blocks are only of sufficient size to sup: port the players in upright positions on the board.

In Fig. 6 I have shown one of a modified set of player members which may be used in place of those just described. In this form, the member consists of a solid block 26 of suitable material having stenciled or otherwise imprinted on its front surface a representation of theball player. The base dimensions of the several blocks 26 are respectively the same as the base dimensions of the supporting blocks 22', 23' and 24.

In addition to the miniature'players, I provide a flagpole in the form of a pin carrying a small flag which is preferably positioned in the area 25 in the outfield along the left field foul line as shown in Fig. 1.

Obviously, the pitcher, catcher and actual batter are not represented by miniature figures for the reason that the two contestants take the place of the pitcher and batter, and the catcher is not necessary to the presentgame.

Itwillbe noted that if desired, distinguishing colors may be employed for certain series of lines on the game board, that is, the lines defining the pitchers mound 4, the home plate 5 and the transverse line 26 may be of one color and. all of the other lines which mark the diamond, zones, etc., may be another color to facilitate the playing of the game according to'the method hereinafter described.

Having thus described my improved game board and the various movable figures forming parts of the game, the method of playing is as follows:

The four infielders 22 are placed one in each of the spaces marked First baseman, Second baseman, Shortstop, and Third baseman, all with their backs to the outfielders. The three outfielders 23 are placed in the respective positions marked Left fielder, Center fielder, and Right fielder, all facing in the same direction as the infielders. It will be noted, however, that all of these figures are movable and, as the game progresses, may be shifted by the defensive contestant according to his observations of his opponents tendencies to hit the ball in one direction or another, similar to the shifting of the fielders for rightand left-hand batters.

The game may be played by from two to eighteen players with an equal number composing each side. Where more than two participate, members of each side should alternate in batting and may make replacements for the pitcher when ever desired, although it is not advisable .to alternate regularly in this-respect. Relief pitch! ers are usually substituted only when the starting pitcher proves ineffective. v a

At the outset, a coin is flipped to'determine which shall be the home team. The home team is then assigned to take the field in the first inning. The board is then placed on a table between the pitcher, representing the defensive team, and the batter representing the offensive team. The opponents face each other with the defensive player sitting at the outfield end of the board and the offensive player at the opposite end of the board. This position is reversed at the conclusion of each inning, that is, after each three outs when the offensive team takes the defensive side, and. vice Versa.

The ball or disc 2| is placed on the area 4 marked Pitchers mound, immediately behind and ;not touching the horizontal line P in that area. a

When both players have indicated their readiness to begin, the pitcher attempts to slide the disc 2| by employing a flipping motion of the index finger of either hand, into the area 5 marked Home plate, 'Where the batter, if he considers it a good pitch, will attempt to employ the same flipping action to send the disc'into a safe area for a hit. However, the batters batting finger (the batting finger is the index finger of either hand-so designated for the duration of the game) must come in contact With the ball while it is in motion. If the batter flips the ball after it comes to a stop, it is considered a foul ball regardless of its final resting place.

Pitching position The tip of either index finger is placed just behind the ball and the ball is flipped from that position with each pitch.

Batting position The tip of the batters finger may be suspended Strikes, foul balls, and foul tips a If the pitcher succeeds in placing the ballwith in the area marked Home 'plate;so that when it comes to rest nfo portion of it is touching any solid line, it is termed a strike, or if the batter flips at the ball with his batting finger and misses it, it is termed a strike, or if the batter flips the ball with his batting finger so that it comes to rest in foul territory, it is termed a strike. Balls flipped by the batter which fail to clear the lines enclosing home plate area 5 are also termed foul balls. Balls that hit the batters batting finger without any motion on the batters part, are termed foul tips and count as strikes. However, no foul is considered a third strike and consequently 'cannot complete a strike-out. In other words, foul balls and foul tips can constitute strikes only up to and including the second strike.

,Foul territory is all of that territory to the batter's left of the line marked Left field foul line on the board, and all territory to the batters right of the line marked Right field foul line. Three strikes constitute an out and after each out a new batter is called to the plate.

Balls Any ball flipped up by the pitcher which is neither struck at and missed by the batter, or

If the ball flipped by the pitcher is not touched or struck at by the batter and comes to rest at a point beyond the horizontal line immediately behind Home plate, it is termed a wild pitch andin addition to counting as a ball for the batter, any and all baserunners may advance one base.

Outs

The batter is out if he strikes out, or if the ball flipped by the batter comes to rest touching any line on the playing field, with the exception of that defining the pitchers mound 4, or if the ball flipped by the batter going entirely off the board. Balls that go off the board in foul territory are included under this ruling except in the case of foul tips.

Double outs When a baserunner is on first base and the batter flips a ball that comes to rest touching any portion of the double line of the infield, both the batter and that baserunner who occupied first base shall be declared out.

Hits

When the batter flips the ball into fair territory so that it comes to rest without touching any line, it is termed a hit. Upon making a hit, the batter becomes a baserunner. The extent of the hit is decided by the marking in that area.

A Single entitles the batter to place a baserunner on first base. A Double entitles him to place a baserunner on second base. A Triple entitles him to place a baserunner on third base. A Home run is a score in itself as all of the bases are automatically considered encircled. Home runs are scored when the batter flips the ball so that it comes to rest in the area marked Right field bleachers "I, or in the area marked Scoreboard 6, or when the ball hits the Flag pole in area 25 regardless of its final resting place.

Adoanccment of baserunners In all cases all baserunners are advanced the same distance as the batter, that is, a runner on first base would go to second base and the batter to first if he made a single; if he made a double, a baserunner on first base would advance to third base and the batter to second. base, eta, except when the ball stops in the areas H and 14 marked Single-baserunners advance. two bases, and areas 15 and 11 marked Double-baserunners ad- Vance three bases, in which instances the baserunners are moved accordingly.

- Sacrifices When the batter flips the ball in such a manner that the supporting block of one of the three outfielders is struck and the ball stops on a line or goes off the board, all baserunners may be advanced one base despite the fact that the batter is out. This is termed a Sacrifice and of course applies only when there are less than two outs already recorded in that inning.

Errors If the ball flipped by the batter shall touch any portion of the pitchers hand, arms or body that is on or over the board, an error is charged against the defensive team and the batter is allowed to go to first base, even if the ball stops on a line, or goes off the board. If it comes to rest in a safe area, however, an error is still charged to the defensive team and the batter advances according to the marking for that particular area.

Scoring A run shall be scored each time a baserunner crosses home plate after advancing around the bases in their proper order.

Inning The term at bat of a team that is completed when three outs have been made, shall constitute an inning.

Duration of game A game is completed if the home team (the team last to bat) scores more runs in eight innings that the team first to bat has scored in nine innings; or if the home team scores the winning run in the ninth inning before the third man is out.

If the score is tied at the end of nine innings, the game shall continue until one team has scored more runs than the other in an equal number of innings, provided that if the team last to bat scores the winning run before the third man is out, the game shall immediately be termed a completed game.

While in the foregoing I have described the use of player members of the form shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be apparent that the game may be played in the same manner with the modified form of player members illustrated in Fig. 6.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a novel and entertaining game of skill which is completely devoid of spin dials, dice, cards, or other implements of chance, the sole purpose of my game being to develop dexterity and precision of thought based on the fundamental principles of the regular game of baseball and .following as closely-as possible on a game board the plays and strategy of theregular game.

Fromthe foregoing'it is believed that the structure and method of playing my game may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing. from the spirit of my invention as set out in the following claims.

What I claim'and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. ,A game comprising a boardhaving a playing surface marked off to represent a baseball diamond includingpitchers mound, first, second and third bases, and home plate, and an outfield divided into'a series of scoring zones, a slidable disc adapted to bepropelled from the pitchers mound by one contestant toward home plate, and returned While in motion by'an opposing contest- 7 ant, 'fro'm home'plate toward the outfield, and a series of blocks adapted to serve as disc deflectors and representing infielders' and outfielders freely moyableron said playing surface and adapted to occupy selected positions thereon, the effective that of the infield blocks.

2. Agame comprising a board having a playing surface marked oif'to represent a baseball diamond including pitchers mound, first, secondand third bases, and home plate, and an outfield divided into a series of scoring zones, a slidable disc adapted to be propelled from the pitchers mound by one contestant toward home plate, and returned while in motion by an opposing contestant, from home plate toward the outfield, and a series of figures representing infielders and outfielders mounted on supporting blocks adapted to length of the outfield blocks being greater than occupy selected positions on said playing surface, 

